Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! Thank you for guiding, teaching, and passing down your love for the great outdoors. As mentors, you are the best role models for your children, especially when sharing the outdoor lifestyle together. Many who take the Hunter Mentor Pledge are fathers just like you, sharing their passion with the next generation. We strongly encourage you to take the pledge so we can continue to nurture a generation that not only cherishes the great outdoors but actively works to protect it. Take the pledge here: https://pheasantsforever.org/mentorpledge#PledgeForm Pheasants Forever Quail Forever #alpsoutdoorz | #huntermentorpledge | #sharethelifestyle | #pheasantsforever | #quailforever

The Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project: The Greatest Effort to Save Bobwhite Quail in American History. You read the title correctly. It might be a mouthful, but the recently announced Working Lands For Wildlife (WLFW), Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project is the biggest endeavor for bobwhite quail in American history. Announced at the 2024 Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic by USDA Under Secretary Robert Bonnie, the project marks the largest concerted effort to restore bobwhite quail populations across 18 states. This is the first time national funds will be sent to states explicitly for bobwhite quail habitat. Specifically, this project earmarks $13 million for bobwhite habitat in 2024. This project is one part of a larger, 5-year effort to improve 7-million acres of bobwhite habitat. One historical obstacle with bobwhite conservation is that most bobwhite habitat occurs on private land. The Working Lands For Wildlife, Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project seeks to address that obstacle by incentivizing private landowners to participate in voluntary conservation practices that will benefit bobwhite quail. Get the full details on The Northern Bobwhite Pilot Project, at the link below. https://quailforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Quail-Forever/The-Northern-Bobwhite-Pilot-Project.aspx

In a normal spring at the South Skunk River Wildlife Area in central Iowa, you’ll find a mosaic of native prairie and wetlands — a haven for both upland birds and countless other species. This year, intense storms have swept across the Iowa countryside. Everything from tornados to heavy rainfall have been reported in different regions of The Hawkeye State. With these storms come rising water levels, pushing many of the state’s rivers to their limits. Ground that typically serves as excellent nesting cover for upland and grassland birds is now under several inches of water. But despite these challenges, quality habitat holds its value. Read why that's the case at the link below. https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/Iowa-Storms-Showcase-Habitat-Diversity.aspx

In North Dakota, chapter members are putting their money where their boots (and bird dogs) want to be most: in high-quality, accessible habitat. Pheasants Forever MonDak Chapter #619 hatched a plan to bolster quality wildlife habitat in their area. Specifically, they wanted to impact lands that would be open for public hunting. The state walk-in access program, Private Lands Open to Sportsmen (PLOTS), run by North Dakota Game and Fish (NDGF), offered the best opportunity for them to do just that. With hopes to leverage funding and further their impact, they worked with both NDGF and Pheasants Forever staff to apply for grant dollars from the North Dakota Outdoor Heritage Fund (OHF). MonDak’s hard work paid off when the proposal was accepted by the OHF Board! This program will allow Pheasants Forever to provide landowners in Williams and Divide counties with an additional incentive payment for enrolling in the PLOTS program and planting new habitat acres. The program will help implement 5,000 acres of new habitat that will be open to public access. Learn more about this new access initiative at the link below. https://pheasantsforever.org/BlogLanding/Blogs/Pheasants-Forever/MonDak-Chapter-Focuses-on-North-Dakota-Access.aspx

A couple weeks ago, following a 13-hour markup, the House Committee on Agriculture voted to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024. This represents a critical step in the process to complete a five-year farm bill, which is the single most important piece of legislation for conservation on private lands. The May 23 markup of Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson’s (R-PA) bill was the first major Congressional action to be taken since the 2018 Farm Bill expired and received a one-year extension last fall. The Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Government Affairs team has worked closely with Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA), and the members and staff of the House Ag Committee throughout the legislative process. While there is still a long way to go to get this bill across the finish line, we were encouraged to see many of our top policy priorities included in the House Farm Bill. So, what’s in the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, and what would it mean for upland bird habitat and hunters? Find out by reading the full story at the link below.